REVIEW:HONDA CBR125R

2012 Honda CB125R Review

Thanks to its big-bike styling, small-bike agility, and easygoing personality, the CBR125R has been making tons of friends on streets and race tracks right across the country.

It’s impossible. You simply can’t look at the Honda CBR125R and not start imagining all the fun you could have. Inexpensive to own and easy to operate, the CBR125R was designed to give novice riders confidence while they learn, while also being fun and practical for more experienced riders. The lightweight chassis, low-effort controls, comfortable seat height that makes it easy for your feet to reach the ground at stoplights, and responsive, hard-to-stall engine with PGM-FI electronic fuel injection, all help make the CBR125R the perfect choice for all types of riders, and all types of riding.

Convenient electric start gets you going with the push of a button, and disc brakes front and rear help provide strong stopping power while also being easy to modulate. Add a close-ratio six-speed transmission that’s super-smooth to shift and a fully featured instrument panel, and you’ve got a bike that’s a blast to ride, whether you’re heading downtown or way out of town with your riding friends.

The 125cc sportsbike class is where riding careers begin. For the vast majority of new riders, on the road and on the race circuit, these machines are the first step on a path that could lead anywhere, perhaps right to the top. For this reason 125cc sportsbikes have a huge responsibility. They must be just as rewarding to ride as bigger Supersports machines, particularly where engine power is less important, such as in town and on very twisty roads. They must be easy to ride too, patiently nurturing new riders and building their confidence on two wheels. If a 125cc sportsbike can put its rider at ease with the fundamentals of control then it has done its job.

Of course the perfect 125cc sportsbike is also huge fun to ride. Such machines are motorcycling's first chance to capture a rider's imagination; its opportunity to show just how exhilarating and rewarding riding can be, not to mention how much more practical it is as a means of travelling today's congested urban roads. This can only be achieved by offering a machine that's designed from the ground up as a sportsbike - delivering the crisp responses and thrilling performance young riders demand.

Reliability and low maintenance are all-important. Any rider's first bike is likely to be called upon to perform a huge range of tasks, from weekend leisure riding or track days to weekday commuting. Absolute reliability must be a given, while low running costs and hassle-free ownership are also critical. Ideally, it should also offer a comfortable pillion seat, allowing a young rider to share the fun with friends.

Since its introduction in 2004 the CBR125R has represented the ideal first sportsbike. Compact, lightweight and blessed with the refinement, ease of use and welcoming handling that have become synonymous with the CBR family, it has become a popular machine with young riders the world over. But the time has come for a more sophisticated 125cc sportsbike, a 125 with the quality feel associated with bigger machines. The CBR125R is ready to prove itself as the perfect first sportsbike for a new generation of riders.

Development concept

Supersport bikes are the ultimate road motorcycles - high performance machines boasting the very latest in chassis and engine development. To ride they are exhilarating in the extreme, offering a thrill no other type of bike can match. The 2012 CBR125R has been designed to offer similar riding dynamics, giving young riders the opportunity to develop sports riding skills from the very earliest days of their careers.

The existing CBR125R is an enormously popular motorcycle, one that has schooled a generation of riders in sports riding. But while its small size is a tremendous asset in many instances, guaranteeing easy handling, a low weight and the ability to slice through urban traffic, the demand has emerged for a 125cc machine that is in every way a full-sized sportsbike. Honda's response to this demand is a new small-capacity bike with big ambitions - the 2012 CBR125R.

The brief was simple: to create a 125cc sportsbike with the look and feel of a bigger and more expensive machine. The new sportsbike had to retain the current CBR125R's user-friendly handling characteristics and free-revving single-cylinder engine, but package them inside all-new bodywork with the sophisticated styling and full-size proportions demanded by the modern young sports rider. It was decided too that wider, more impressive wheel and tyre sizes should be specified, enhancing handling while also helping create the feel of a much bigger motorcycle. Finally, the latest advances in fuel injection and catalyser technology would make the 2012 CBR125R more efficient than its predecessor.

2012 Honda CB125R Key Features

Engine / Drivetrain

The 125 cc SOHC four-stroke engine delivers excellent low-end and midrange power that makes getting going from a stop super easy..

Liquid-cooling ensures consistent performance in hot or cold weather, or city or highway riding, while also improving reliability..

Honda's advanced PGM-FI electronic fuel-injection system delivers the precise amount of fuel for optimum performance. You get easy starting, accurate throttle response, better overall performance, and improved engine operating efficiency..

A balancer shaft inside the engine reduces vibration for a comfortable ride..

The close-ratio six-speed transmission shifts smoothly and helps keep the engine in the meat of its powerband..

The stainless-steel exhaust system incorporates an oxygen sensor and a tri-metal catalytic converter to keep performance high and help the CBR125R exceed the stringent Euro3 emissions standards..

The clutch and throttle have a light operation that makes them easy to use.

Chassis / Suspension

Wide race-style cast wheels and high-traction sport tires add to the CBR125R’s sporty credentials..

Powerful front and rear disc brakes mean sure, predictable stopping power and light effort at the brake lever and pedal..

A slim yet sturdy pentagonal-section twin-spar steel frame and a box-section swingarm reduce unwanted flex for better control during spirited riding..

Sporty chassis geometry, including a short wheelbase, allow responsive, agile handling on twisty roads, but the CBR125R remains confidently stable on the open road..

Superb control and rider comfort are assured by the CBR125R’s premium suspension components..

High-tech chassis components contribute to the CBR125R's easy-to-handle weight.

Additional Features

Eye-catching bodywork gives the CBR125R a imposing, big-bike look while also improving rider protection and comfort in all kinds of weather..

The fairing shows an unmistakable family resemblance to the big Honda sport bikes, including a bright single headlight..

The racing-style seat blends smoothly into the tank and side panels, providing a secure perch for sporty riding plus superb comfort for when you're just cruising..

Flip up the lockable passenger seat and you'll find a spacious storage area for a spare pair of gloves, a light rain suit, or even your lunch..

Grab handles on either side of the rear seat provide the sense of security so crucial to passenger comfort, leaving rider and pillion free to enjoy the ride..

A large 13-litre fuel tank gives the CBR125R impressive range..

Advanced multi-function digital instrument display includes a speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge and temperature gauge tucked neatly behind the CBR125R's windscreen, and all visible at a quick glance..

The CBR125R comes with Honda's renowned quality and reliability built right in..

1 year, unlimited mileage, freely transferable warranty.